Liverpool vs. Arsenal

2-0, Premier League, Anfield, 2012-09-02
Podolski 31,
Cazorla 68

We are finally back in the goalscoring business, and we're in it with style. After two goalless draws we have claimed a fantastic win away against Liverpool and we've kept our third clean-sheet of the season whilst doing it! Also great for two of our new boys, Podolski and Cazorla, to get on the score-sheet and build up some confidence for the rest of the season.

This game was played at a fast pace over the entire ninety minutes. However, I do get the feeling that that only played to our advantage. It is difficult for one team to try and up the pace of the game alone and as we prefer short, quick passes we are good at playing a fast paced game. The first half was pretty much all over the place, but we were the ones who found ourselves ahead at half time. Lukas Podolski started a counter-attack by playing the ball to Cazorla and then going on an amazing run into the box, where the Spaniard found him with a perfect pass and the German attacker could place the ball past Reina. This was our first goal of the season and the relief was evident on all of the players, we are finally on our way!

In the second half Liverpool began building up more pressure, especially through the introduction of Downing. But we managed to hold strong and scored through yet another brilliant run, this time from our new Spaniard. Santi Cazorla made the run into the box, received a pass from Podolski (reversed roles this time around) and got a shot at Reina in a really tight angle. I, for one, did not think that it would go in when I saw Reina get his body over the ball, but it squeezed in below him and we had our two-goal lead! It felt great to have the cushion and it truly felt as though we were going to get our first win!

I don't know whether we should thank Steve Bould for this new and strong defence, but something has changed over the summer and we managed to hold on to the lead and keep our third clean-sheet. Thomas Vermaelen were brilliant at the heart of the defence and Kieran Gibbs has made huge improvements over the summer, he might very well be our best player so far this season. Another player to stand out in this game, although who isn't a defender, is Abou Diaby. He was a ledge in the midfield who won the ball and created lots of chances.

Now we face an international break, but two weeks from now we face Southampton at the Emirates on Saturday.

Injury Update;
-Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain appeared to pick up an injury in the second half and was replaced by Ramsey.
-Thomas Vermaelen was replaced in the 90th minute, hopefully it was nothing serious!